U.S. should work for global justice

Tyranny does not abide forgiveness and is the scourge of the world. We are all called to bring peace to our individual lives, our families, our communities and the world by, first, refusing to equate revenge with justice and, then, by forgiving others.

The goal of world peace will be achieved by those, trained at peace academies, who are skilled at non-violent conflict resolution and diplomacy. Force, without diplomacy or forgiveness, achieves a hollow peace, as hollow as the empty barrel of a smoking gun. Peace is achieved by helping others attain their inspired dreams and not by being a dream killer. Multi-national corporate, political and religious leaders need to shed their self-righteous conditions for forgiveness and their addiction to vengeance that leads to tyranny and exploitation.

Whoever said, "Greed is good," was wrong. Greed is counterproductive. Henry Ford knew this and paid his workers enough to buy the cars they produced and dreamed of owning. The dreams of everyone are there to be understood, respected, encouraged and facilitated.

The emerging synthesis between free trade and no trade is fair trade. The United States should push for justice and propose to the General Assembly of the United Nations a minimum living world wage for all workers everywhere. No one, least of all the United States, has the right to exploit others by ignoring or crushing their God-given dreams.

It is time to follow the lead and reiterate the deeply inscribed words and uncompromising dream of Thomas Jefferson, who said, "I have sworn, on the altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

George E. Bedingteld

Arlington Heights